Southern California is a dreamland for families and it’s our home so we’ve been testing out the best experiences. Attractions, activities, hiking, camping, beaches, and adventures can all be taken in one day with your starting point in Southern California.

Here are 40 family-fun things to do in Southern California. (Click on the links to read first-hand accounts of our experiences at these destinations.)

1. Disneyland – The undisputed granddaddy of theme parks has been leading the way since 1955, inviting visitors to spend the day in the ultimate land of make-believe.

2. Downtown Disney District – just steps away from Disneyland, a lively promenade with great shopping, entertainment, restaurants, and a great place to watch the nightly Disneyland fireworks.

3. Disneyland Adventure – Explore 7 exciting lands that bring to life Disney and Pixar stories and characters through amazing attractions, entertainment and dining! Across from Disneyland, you can do both parks in the same day. (And now that Frozen has its own section, little girls are even more excited than usual to visit the happiest place on earth.)

From groundbreaking to opening day, Disneyland was built in just 365 days.

4. Riding the Balboa Ferry – You can walk on, take your bike, or drive your car onto the Balboa Ferry for a lovely, pleasant, and cheap boat trip of 1,000 feet.

5. Segerstrom Center for the Arts – At Segerstrom, you can see Broadway shows in a beautiful venue without driving to Los Angeles. They have world premieres and other unique experiences like free Movie Mondays in the summer.

6. Knott’s Berry Farm – Fun is always in season at Knott’s Berry Farm. With dozens of rides, shows, roller coasters, and attractions in five themed areas, there is something for everyone.

7. Knott’s Soak City – Explore a variety of water slides for kids and adults to enjoy.

All boysenberries – a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry – can trace their roots back to Knott’s Berry Farm.

8. Adventure City – Adventure City is a theme park located in Anaheim. The park’s slogan is “The Little Theme Park that’s BIG on Family Fun”. It focuses on the young adventure seeker and offers a petting farm.

9. Aquarium of the Pacific – Kids can take a virtual tour of this aquarium that features marine habitats of the Pacific Rim.

10. Crystal Cove State Park – The park is located off Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, California with easy access from I-5, 405 and 73. It offers beach access, hiking, camping, and naturalist events.

11. Baby Beach, Dana Point – With kayaking, paddleboarding, and boat rentals as well as a calm-water beach for swimming and soft sand for castles, Baby Beach in Dana Point is ideal for the whole family.

13. The New Children’s Museum – The New Children’s Museum is a new model of children’s museum whose mission is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking in children and families through inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art.

14. San Diego Zoo– San Diego Zoo Global is the largest zoological membership association in the world, with more than 250,000 member households and 130,000 child memberships, representing more than a half million people.

15. San Diego Safari Park – One of the largest tourist attractions in San Diego County, the park houses a large array of wild and endangered animals including species from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia.

See rare and endangered species in Southern California.

16. Irvine Spectrum Center – One of Southern California’s most popular shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations for visitors of all ages, Irvine Spectrum Center offers a collection of over 130 stores. Dining is a delectable adventure at Irvine Spectrum Center with over 35 culinary options. In addition, the center offers a full range of fun for families and adults as home to one of the country’s largest theater complexes, IMAX, Dave & Buster’s and an Improv Comedy Club, along with a whimsical carousel and a 108-foot Giant Wheel from Italy.

17. Medieval Times Dinner Tournament – Inside the stone walls of an 11th century-style castle, Medieval Spain comes to life as six knights, donning authentic armor, clash in a jousting tournament for the title of King’s Champion. Medieval Times serves a four-course meal fit for royalty.

18. Legoland – LEGOLAND California is a 128-acre park geared specifically towards youngsters ages 2 – 12. With over 60 family rides, “hands-on” attractions and shows, LEGOLAND California provides education, adventure and fun in this first park of its kind in the United States.

19. Universal Studios – Only Universal Studios lets you ride the movies and go behind the scenes of a real working movie studio.

21. Orange County Great Park – Soar 400 feet above the surrounding landscape in the Great Park Balloon or ride the carousel. There is a Kid’s Rock playground for children and the Certified Farmers Market is held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Sunday.

22. Whale Watching -Board a boat during the spring and summer at Newport Landing or Dana Point to watch Blue Whale migration.

23. Balboa Fun Zone – Ride the waterfront Ferris Wheel, play arcade games, and tour the nautical museum. This is also a popular place to rent bikes, take a harbor cruise, or catch a boat to Catalina Island.

24. Catalina Island – 26 miles across the sea, Catalina Island is accessible by passenger ferries from Newport Beach and Dana Point. The trip takes approximately 1 hour. You can also take a helicopter from Long Beach or San Pedro. Activities include swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, or just enjoying a stroll along the quaint shops and galleries.

25. Pretend City Children’s Museum – A great place to spend time with the little ones who love to pretend.

26. The OC Zoo – located inside beautiful Irvine Regional Park in the city of Orange. See native animals and plant exhibits, take a ride on the Irvine Park Railroad, or relax in one of the picnic areas.

27. San Juan Capistrano Mission – an historic landmark and museum, you can take a guided tour, a self-guided tour, or reserve a tour with a docent.

28. Sawdust Art Festival – Family-friendly with free admission for kids 12 and under, the Sawdust Art Festival is open from June 26th – August 30th. The Sawdust Art Festival in Laguna Beach has a rustic ambiance, reflecting its 50-year-old roots as an alternative summer festival. Its homemade booths, sawdust covered grounds, shady eucalyptus trees, and waterfall all add to this atmosphere.

29. Skiing or snowboarding – Snow Summit Ski Area and Big Bear Mountain both offer skiing and snowboarding for beginners to expert.

33. Magic Mountain – Tubing or sledding is what winter memories are made of! Spend the day at Magic Mountain in Big Bear and enjoy the Alpine Slide, sledding, snowman building, miniature golf, and go-karts.

34. Big Bear Funplex – Bowling, skating, mini golf, arcade games, laser tag, and dining can all be found at Big Bear Funplex. You can decide as a family which activities you’d like the most and packages are available.

39. Have Fun Tours- A family-run tour company that offers the best tours in Southern California, Have Fun Tours can get you behind the scenes at Extra or on a back stage tour of Hollywood’s famous theaters.

40. OC Fair & Event Center – The OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) is a 150-acre event venue in Costa Mesa, California. The site hosts over 150 events attracting 4.3 million visitors annually, and is home to the Orange County Fair, Centennial Farm, Costa Mesa Speedway, and Pacific Amphitheatre.

Did I miss any of your favorite things to do in Southern California? With so many options, it’s impossible to list them all. Share your favorite Southern California attraction or event below.

This is perfect! We want to explore CA when we head back to the states. I remember a few of these places from when I was a kid, but there is so much to do now. My husband & I honeymooned in San Diego and went to the San Diego Zoo, but that’s about it. It was fun even without kiddos.

You definitely nailed everything, especially by putting Disneyland first on the list! There used to be a really fun place that I loved as a kid called Bullwinkle’s, based on the popular cartoon. Unfortunately it’s closed now, probably because most kids these days wouldn’t be able to relate. Too bad! Chuck E. Cheese’s is a good place too!